Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) — Philippine flags in several institutions and local governments are flying at half-staff while the nation mourns the death of former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Thursday.
The Senate and House of Representatives, where he previously served as senator and congressman, have lowered their flags to honor the 61-year-old leader. Davao City, Albay, Quezon City, and Manila City also followed suit.
At around 2 p.m., Malacañang finally started to put the flags inside the compound at half-staff.
Aquino, who served as the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016, was rushed to Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, where died this morning.
His former deputy presidential spokesperson, Abigail Valte, said the bereaved family will issue an official statement “later.”
Multiple sources and people close to the Aquino clan have confirmed that he has died.
